Wired/wireless network

choccyface2006

Hi,

I have set up a couple of wireless networks but they have always been onto laptops only, now I am sorting one out for my mum and dad but they have a laptop and a desktop that doesn't have a wireless adaptor.

I thought that I could make a wired connection with the PC but have the laptop wireless but its not having any of it.

Its a Netgear router and I have install it onto the pc fine but of course I can't get past the stage where you would normally take the wire out because it doesn't have the adaptor. So I can't get a WEP key, its fine on the internet like this but I need to add the laptop wirelessly.

When try to connect with the laptop it can see the new network but needs the WEP key to connect. But I haven't got the WEP key because I can't get to that stage of the set on on the pc.

Is there no way of getting the WEP key unless I get an adaptor to get the PC wireless too? Is it not possible to have a wired and wireless connection?

I have ordered an adaptor and pick it up later but just thought I would get more info from you guys first to see it its really needed.

Thanks

Sarah

cledor

The WEP is only used for wireless connections, it won't be required for the wired connection and you can simply plug either computer into the LAN port using a suitable ethernet cable.

If you need to find the WEP key, you can log into the Netgear config page from your laptop using IE on http://192.168.0.1 and copy the key details from there.

choccyface2006

I've had to do that once before.

I only need the wep key for the laptop but I can't get onto the Netgear config page without it being connected to the router can I? Its connected to the pc at present.

Thanks, I'm so useless!

Sarah

cledor

Why don't you use the pc to log into the Netgear config screen and simply copy the WEP key from there.

student100

choccyface2006 wrote: »

Its a Netgear router and I have install it onto the pc fine but of course I can't get past the stage where you would normally take the wire out because it doesn't have the adaptor. So I can't get a WEP key, its fine on the internet like this but I need to add the laptop wirelessly.

Can't you do all the setup on the laptop first (I presume it has wired ethernet as well as wireless?), then plug the desktop into the router after it's all set up?

choccyface2006

Oh I see, that makes sense.

The only reason I was doing it this way round was because I had loads of problems setting up a friends vista laptop with this router, I had to spend quite some time configuring the router so it would work. Where as I set up my own wireless on my XP laptop no problems and my Vista found the connection automatically and only needed the wep key to connect.

I think I will try that though, then she saves £25 on a adaptor.

Thanks Student100!

Sarah

choccyface2006

Cledor, of course, doh, I bet you tell I'm a women. I will try this first.

Thanks

Sarah

cledor

BTW if your router and wireless computers allow WPA encryption you should be using that instead of WEP since they say WEP can be cracked in minutes.

choccyface2006

Oh thanks for that, will do.